10 Secret And Sophisticated Weapons That India Is Currently Developing

Being a global leader in development and one of the top 5 military powers in the world, India is constantly developing new arms and ammunition and improving on previous versions of its weaponry. With security challenges increasing, both from within and across borders, the country seems poised to continue with its development agenda. In this post, we bring you some of the secret weapons that the country is developing right now. Take a look.

HAL AMCA is a super-maneuverable multi-role combat aircraft with stealth capabilities. Designed for ground strikes, bombing and intercepting, the HAL AMCA will be able to perform a variety of duties. It has state of the art systems, flight surfaces and controls, and two internal weapons bays which can each carry four air-to-air missiles. It also comes armed with a 30 mm cannon. The HAL AMCA is expected to have a top speed of Mach 2.5 and be able to operate at an altitude of nearly 60,000 feet.

2. Sukhoi/HAL FGFA

This Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) or Perspective Multi-role Fighter is being developed as a joint venture between Russia and India. It is being designed to compete with the F-22 Raptor and the F-35. It will feature a 30 mm cannon to complement its many missiles. The two-man-crew fighter can travel at an altitude up to 65,000 feet while reaching speeds of Mach 2.3.

3. Agni-VI

Agni-VI is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is said to be the latest and most advanced version of the Agni missiles, which is likely to carry up to 10 Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) warheads and will have a strike range of 8,000 km to 12,000 km. The missile is guided using the latest technologies and is expected to weigh between 55,000 and 70,000 kilograms. It is expected to be in service by 2018.

4. INS Vikrant

Began construction in 2009 and scheduled for commissioning in 2018, the INS Vikrant will be the first aircraft carrier to be built in India. It is 860 feet long and 200 feet wide and is expected to carry 30 fixed-wing aircrafts including the MiG-29K and the Tejas Mark II on her 10,000 square meter flight deck. The INS Vikrant will have a top cruising speed of 28 knots and have a range of over 9,000 miles.

5. BrahMos-II or BrahMos Mark II

BrahMos-II is a hyper-sonic cruise missile currently under joint development by Russia and India. It is speculated that it will travel at a speed of Mach 7 and have an operational range of 180 miles. It has the ability to be fired from ships, submarines, aircraft, and land, and is a versatile missile that will strike fast. It will hit with a mighty force to destroy hardened and buried targets such as bunkers and storage facilities. It is scheduled to be ready by 2020.

6. HAL Tejas MK-II

The HAL Tejas MK-II is a multi-role light combat fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities. It is currently in the testing phase. It has a lighter composite body, better tactical striking ability, and more powerful engines than its predecessor, the MiG-21 fighters. This Tejas MK-II will be able to fill multiple roles from reconnaissance to tactical and defense. It is predicted to be in service by 2022.

7. UAC/HAL II-214

A Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA), UAC/HAL II-214 is a medium-airlift military transport aircraft which is being developed by the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of India. It is being developed to replace the aging fleet of Antonov AN-32. It is designed mainly for transporting cargo and troops, and it will travel at speeds of 541 mph with a payload of around 44,000 pounds including up to 150 passengers. It will have a range of between 2,000 miles and 4,400 miles depending on the weight of the payload. The UAC/HAL II-214 is due to be in service by 2018.

8. HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) TD4

HAL LCH TD4 is a multi-role combat helicopter with capability of carrying and firing rockets, missiles, and bombs. Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and currently in the testing phase, it can speed along at nearly 170 mph at an altitude of just over 21,000 feet. It has a 15.8-meter long body that holds a crew of two. It is intended to be used against slow moving aerial targets but it can be used in tactical strikes, reconnaissance and in many other support roles.

9. DRDO Rustom II

Based on the American Predator drone, the Rustom II will have advanced flight controls, a composite frame, automatic wing de-icing and it will be able to automatically take off and land. At just over 5 meters in length, it will be India’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and it will be able to travel at 140 miles per hour at an altitude of about 35,000 feet. It is projected that the Ruston II will be in service by 2018.

10. Arjun Mark-II

The featured weapon of this super tank is armed with a 120 mm rifled gun which can fire a wide range of ammunition that are capable of penetrating modern armor. The rifle can be remotely operated from the safety of inside the Arjun Mark-II. The tank is also fitted with 8 grenade launchers and the four-men-crew can observe their surroundings with a panoramic sighting system. Due to be in service in 2016, it is in the late phases of development and testing.